TWE in Japan – Karuizawa Trip Pt.5
[Welcome to the fifth part of TWE’s trip to Japan last year. You can read the earlier instalments in this saga of inter-continental dramming here, here, here and here.] The town of Karuizawa is an upmarket holiday resort, with the … Continue reading >>
And if you’ve been reading this letters for awhile, then you know of my predilection for small, independent distilleries striving to “push the envelope” with their product. This weeks featured whisky is a classic example of just that: Rough Rider Bourbon, Batch 1 from Long Island Spirits.
Teddy Roosevelt, a native Long Islander, organized the United States First Voluntary Cavalry, commonly known as the Rough Riders, in 1898. Composed of 2,350 men from across the country, including cowboys, Native Americans and other wild west types, as well as Ivy League athletes and aristocratic sportsmen from the East.
This disparate group shared a common purpose: the pursuit if adventure, independence and excellence. Despite winning the Battle of San Juan hill, the Rough Riders disbanded on Montauk Point after only 137 days of service.
Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Batch #1 is inspired by the uncommon virtues of those men.
Each limited batch of Rough Rider Straight Bourbon is meticulously handcrafted at a distillery just miles from where the Roosevelt’s Rough Riders departed, in Montauk Long Island. The whiskey is a high-rye, straight bourbon that starts out as a highly refined mash bill, consisting of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley, and is then aged for several years in charred new American white oak barrels.
Rough Rider is then finished in hand selected American oak barrels, which once held some of Long Island’s finest wines. The wine casks that are selected for the second maturation, described by Long Island Spirits owner Richard Stabile as its exclusive method of “Reserve Aged,” are chosen from the finest wineries on Long Island and are an exquisite balanced blend of award winning Merlot and Chardonnay barrels.
These casks undergo a “cask finishing wash”, with a very unique 180-proof brandy distilled from local Long Island Chardonnay, that tempers each wine barrel prior to filling it with the bourbon. Rough Rider mellows while acquiring its distinctive character during this delicate second maturation period, adding a layer of dark red fruit and honey notes to the small batch straight bourbon.
The bourbon delivers a light, floral nose followed by a smooth, well rounded palate of sweetness with complex hints of caramel, vanilla, and spice. The finish is savory, supple, and encored by a heady heat
Rough Rider Bourbon, Batch #1 ($35.45/ bottle) is an extremely limited production whiskey. But fortunately for us, our man Nicky The Neck has been known to hang out with some very rough riders in his day, and so was able to lasso more than our fair share of this whisky.
So if you want a bottle or two, act now, because once it’s gone…
Until next week…I wish you high spirits!
Doug Stone
Founder
ForWhiskeyLovers.com
Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Batch #1
Taste Virginia Highland Malt in Richmond! ABC Stores Host Free Event
Hello River City Friends!
We hope you’ll stop by one of these ABC stores this weekend for a free tasting of Virginia Highland Malt Whisky. It will be hosted by our own Dan FitzHenry.
Friday, 6-8pm Richmond, Shockoe Bottom (Enging Company Lofts Building, N. 21st and Main St.)
Saturday, 12-2pm Short Pump, Short Pump Crossing Center
You can really help by sharing this event on Facebook and Twitter…We appreciate the support.
The Dimensions collection is an outstanding range of single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies encompassing the full breadth of the Duncan Taylor portfolio. Containing whiskies aged up to 39 years, the Dimensions collection showcases the multi dimensional levels of character and flavour available from individual distilleries and casks.
The Dimensions collection consists of single cask, cask strength releases and exclusively numbered small batches at 46% abv. Neither chill filtered nor coloured, only the finest whiskies are selected for inclusion, ensuring that every bottle delivers the Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky ethos: Whisky Without Compromise.
Duncan Taylor and Co Ltd has experimented for many years in the use of differing cask sizes for the maturation of Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch Whiskies. Our research stemmed from a simple premise that there is more wood interaction with spirit over a shorter period of time in a smallcask than in a large cask, therefore allowing a more rapid “melding” of wood, air and alcohol. The resultant spirit demonstrated a depth of maturity missing in a larger cask over a similar period of storage. On completion of a relatively short maturation period of a younger whisky, the spirit appeared smoother, more balanced with plenty of character more reminiscent of a long maturation. The rough edges were removed and the taste profile changed dramatically to what would be considered a whisky of a much more mature nature or vintage. The whisky became polished, bright and sparkled with intensity.
Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | Aberdeenshire | AB54 8EQ
www.ralfy.com discovers (and share’s with you) a rather juicy bottle of Irish nectar with Whisky Review 346 – Greenore 8yo Irish Grain Whiskey
Top Picks
•1993 Glenmorangie Ealanta 19 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($115.99)
It’s getting to the point where the annual Glenmorangie special edition release is personally my most anticipated whisky of the year. The peated Finealta from two years back was a splendid release, super refined and very lithe on the palate. Last year’s Artein was simply magical – it was easily in my top three favorites of the year. 2013 brings us another slam dunk, gotta-have-it, masterpiece release with the Ealanta: a 19 year old whisky aged in new oak from Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest. While that may not sound too interesting to the average whisky fan, it is very unusual for single malt whisky to see new wood – especially charred. American Bourbon must always be aged in new oak barrels, but Scottish single malt is almost exclusively aged in ex-Bourbon or ex-Sherry casks, which have already been seasoned with a previous liquid. The barrels used to age the Ealanta were air-dried for over two years, but were never used otherwise. The resulting flavor s are not foreign, but they are intensified. The richness is richer, the oak spice is spicier, and the vanilla is creamier. This is absolutely one of the most polished whiskies I have ever tasted from Dr. Bill. There’s nothing fancy going on with the Ealanta – it’s simply perfect single malt whisky. Flawless. Round, robust, intriguing, with lovely baking spices and candied orange peel on the finish. I can’t imagine anyone – either new to single malt or a chiseled veteran – not adoring the Ealanta. A true must-buy.
•Laphroaig “Triple Wood” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($64.99)
94 points Whisky Advocate: “This is the first time I’ve been up for reviews here so I had a game plan: play it cool, mark tightly, let everyone know I’m hard to please. Then they gave me this, the whisky equivalent to front row tickets to Neil Young on his current Twisted Road tour: not just a chance to get up close and personal with an old favorite, but to do so with an old favorite who’s on fire. Laphroaig’s owners are intent on ensuring a big peaty engine for any new release, but this is a monster by anyone’s standards. It’s essentially Quarter Cask finished in oloroso sherry casks, so in addition to the intense charcoal smoke attack there are rich fruity notes; blackcurrant and berries. It’s an evening barbecue whisky. Grill that fish until it’s blackened and crispy, drizzle on lemon, and as the smoke rears up in protest, sip this. Big, moody, broody, fruity, and rich: what’s not to love? (Vol 19, #3)” K&L Notes: A limited release that was supposedly for European Travel Retail only! Lucky for us some popped up in California. This is essentially the Quarter Cask finished in Oloroso Sherry Butts. There’s an extra touch of savory richness at the back end, but the entry is all peat and iodine just like we expect from Laphroaig. The finish really lurks for some time, morphing from smoke, to nutty rancio, to savory sea salt. It’s a great new release from Laphroaig – a distillery that has been absolutely killing it with their special edition whiskies as of late.
•Macallan 25 year old, Distillery Bottling Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($699.99)
Extremely Limited! Macallan’s 25 year old sherry casks are a modern classic.
Back in Stock
Ireland
• Irishman Original Clan Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($29.99)
Scotland – Single Malt Scotch
• Glengoyne 17-year-old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $100) ($49.99)
• Laphroaig 25 year old Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Previously $500) – 5 available ($499.99)
United States – Bourbon and Rye
• Black Maple Hill, Small Batch Bourbon 750ml (1 bottle limit) ($33.99)
• Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Small Batch Rye 90 Proof 750ml (3 btls per customer) ($34.99)
K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
The Macallan 25 year old is back in stock.
We are delighted to announce the arrival of another gem from Macallan.
Limited stock will be arriving in our warehouses on Monday the 11th of March and it is now available to order via our website.
The winner of many accolades including the gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge 2012.
Colour: Rich Mahogany.
Nose: Citrus balanced with cinnamon, sherry and wood smoke.
Palate: Full and rich, with dried fruits and wood smoke.
Finish: Long, with dried fruits, wood smoke and spice.
To buy one of the rarest and highly sought after Macallan single malts in the world simply click here.
The Macallan – The Flask
According The Macallan this is “The ultimate whisky accessory”. At The Macallan, we handle our single malt with care. And if you’re on the go, so should you! Unveil: The Flask – the ultimate accessory for the active whisky aficionado. … Continue reading →
We’re delighted to present our review of the majestic Karuizawa 1964 from Number One Drinks bottled for Wealth Solutions.
http://www.livingroomwhisky.com/project/karuizawa-1964-number-one-drinks/
www.ralfy.com heads off to Ireland in the run up to St Patricks’ day with Whisky Review 345 – Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey . . . very easy drinking.
